W. A. Mozart / Hermann Abert ; translated by Stewart Spencer ; edited by Cliff Eisen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Abert, Hermann, 1871-1927, author.

Contributor:

Spencer, Stewart, translator.

Eisen, Cliff, 1952- editor.

Language:

English

German

Subjects (All):

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791.

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus.

Composers--Austria--Biography.

Composers.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (1,545 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

New Haven, [Connecticut] ; London, [England] : Yale University Press, 2007.

Language Note:

In English and in German.

Summary:

The most comprehensive account of Mozart's life and works in any language, available in English for the first time Hermann Abert's classic biography, first published in German more than eighty years ago and itself based on the definitive mid-nineteenth century study by Otto Jahn, remains the most informed and substantial biography of Mozart in any language. The book is both the fullest account of the composer's life and a deeply skilled analysis of his music. Proceeding chronologically from 1756 to 1791, the book interrogates every aspect of Mozart's life, influences, and experience; his personality; his religious and secular dimensions; and the social context of the time. In "a book within a book," Abert also provides close scrutiny of the music, including the operas, orchestral work, symphonies and piano concertos, church music and cantatas, and compositions for solo instruments. While the tone of Abert's great work is expertly rendered by Stewart Spencer, developments in Mozart scholarship since the last German edition are signaled by the Mozart scholar, Cliff Eisen, in careful annotations on every page. Supported by a host of leading Mozart scholars, this immense undertaking at last permits English-language readers access to the most important single source on the life of this great composer.

Contents:

Childhood

Travels of the child prodigy

Works from the grand tour

Studies in Salzburg

The first operas in Vienna

Gesellschaftsmusik and church music of 1769

The first Italian journey

The second and third Italian journeys

Opera seria

Early operas and the oratorio la betulia liberata

Church and instrumental works, 1769-1773

On the road to 'La finta giardiniera'

Opera buffa

La finta giardiniera

Mozart in Salzburg, 1775

Munich and Augsburg

Mannheim

Arrival in Paris : tragédie lyrique

'Opéra comique'

The music dramas of Gluck

Mozart in Paris

Homecoming

Service at the Salzburg court

Sacred and instrumental works, 1779-1781

König Thamos and Zaide

Idomeneo

First steps in Vienna

The German singspiel

Die Entführung aus dem Serail

Engagement and marriage

Mozart's personality

Relations with Constanze, friends and colleagues, 1782-1786

Mozart and Freemasonry

In the service of the aristocracy and society

Plans for new operas

Mozart and artistic creativity

Perfpimd changes in style: the influence of J.S. Bach,G.F. Handel and C.P.e. Bach

Chamber and orchestral works between die Entführung and Figaro

The great keyboard concertos

Choral works, lieder and arias

Operatic fragments between die Entführung

Le nozze di Figaro

Between di Figaro and Don Giovanni

Mozart in Prague

Don Giovanni

The period of the three great symphonies

Visit to north Germany

Così fan tutte

Increasing hardship and work

Instrumental and vocal works of the final two years

La clemenza di Tito

Die Zauberflöte

Illness and death

The Requiem

Beyond the grave.

Notes:

"Originally published in German as W.A. Mozart by Breitkopf und Hartel, 1923-4; reprinted, wtih corrections but without appendices, 1956, 1978"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-300-22609-8